> Thanks for the tip. I was exporting and importing, rather than copy and
> paste from the DDB index. I'm thinking of setting up some default setups
in
> a skunkwork DDB. I fully concur with your frustration about the time
> stamping. A good wizard would be very useful as well.
>
> Duane Foster
I agree that there is something to be said for a CAM Manager type of Wizard,
with which users could, at the very least, define the/a list of Printout
Definitions that they want (which would differ from the staus quo in that a
Composite type Printout definition would *not* be generated by default upon
the initial invocation of a new Print Configuration file). And while users
might sometimes want the same set of Mechanical layers to be included within
every Printout Definition within this list, that would not necessarily
always be the case, so the Wizard would be yet better if users could
"fine-tune" (such) aspects of each Printout Definition before any previews
are (first) generated.
Undesirable "time stamping" aspects can be reduced (or even eliminated
altogether) by saving an assortment of Print Configuration files within a
DDB file saved in "Windows" format. Such files would be of a "template"
nature, and the production of a sufficiently large number would minimise the
amount of editing that would be necessary after an appropriate file had been
imported/pasted into a currently-worked-upon DDB file.
My experience is that some time is required to set up suitable "template"
files, but having done so, using these saves a lot of time afterwards. I
have sometimes used a text editor to "tweak" settings within PPC files
(which have a reasonably self-documenting ASCII format), but I am not
certain that I have saved significant amounts of time by doing that.
"Transplating" template-type files is a bit on the painful side, and I can
appreciate that this is an aspect which less experienced users will
experience some angst over. I have in fact given a bit of thought as to how
much effort would be involved in creating my own Wizard, which would convert
my selected options into an ASCII file with appropriate contents, and then
add that file to the (currently open) DDB file as a Print Configuration
file. But to date I have considered that the development time which I have
assessed would be required (to implement that) is too long in relation to
the relatively small amount of bother involved with "transplanting" template
files and then "fine-tuning" these as required.
I have customised my Resources (Toolbar and Shortcut keys) for the Power
Print Manager to facilitate invoking the assorted dialog boxes which can be
invoked from this Server. That way, if I want to review/change any current
settings, I can do so with relative ease, regardless of which dialog boxes
contain the settings of interest. I recommend that others do the same as
well. (I have established Resources to invoke the (four) dialog boxes that
edit settings for the currently selected Printout Definition, edit Printer
(driver) settings, select the PCB file (to be previewed/printed from), and
edit system/global settings.)
The Power Print Server is pretty powerful, and is *much* better than the
previous printing methods (or is at least superior to these for the most
part, if not on every last count). With such power is an associated
learning-curve. I consider that Protel has made some effort to make this
user-friendly; that said, I concur that there are some aspects which could
be improved (in this regard) yet further, and without compromising any of
its current capabilities.
Regards,
Geoff Harland.
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